School Information
Chatfield School
231 Lake Drive
Lapeer, Michigan 48446
Phone (810) 667-8970
Fax (810) 667-8983
Email: ChatfieldSchool@chatfieldschool.org
Grades K-8
The Chatfield School is a Michigan Public School Academy chartered by Saginaw Valley State University in 1997. Charter Schools (known as public school academies in Michigan) are public schools that operate alongside the traditional public school system. Enrollment is open to all students, and students attend the school free of charge, as with other public schools. Charter schools have contracts with universities or other agencies to achieve specific goals intended to improve student learning. In exchange for the contract the school is granted greater autonomy over its operation and curriculum. More than 3000 charter schools operate in more than 34 states.
Chatfield School is a school of choice. No students are required to attend Chatfield, and none are required to stay. Attracting and retaining families is critical to the success of the school. Chatfield has been successful in both respects. The School's Waiting List has been approximately 300 in each of the past ten years. More than 95 percent of the families enrolling at Chatfield remain until all their children have completed the Sixth Grade.
A five-member school board governs the school. Saginaw Valley State University appoints members to three-year terms. The School Board is responsible for fulfilling all the laws and regulations of the state and all the condition of the contract with SVSU. The current Directors appointed to the school are Bill Kraly and Matt Young.
The Chatfield School Board members are:
- Mike Blazo, President
- Ralph McCreedy, Vice-president
- Karen Dumas, Sec./Treasurer
- Bruce Cady, Trustee
- David Snyder, Trustee
The Chatfield School Specifics:
- Conveniently located--approximately 1.5 miles east of the Lake Nepessing Road Exit of I-69 and 1 mile west of Lapeer's M-24/M21 interchange; next to the Lapeer Campus of Mott Community College
- Housed in a 30,000+ square foot brick building with a gymnasium, library and other exceptional building features including outdoor classroom areas and exceptional themed gardens.
- Located on a ten acre site between the Lapeer Nature Preserve Prairies and Ponds and the Mott Community College Building
- Children attend school 178 school days from 8:40 am to 3:30 pm; child care is available before and after the regular school day
- Each child has his or her own teacher, but every teacher and child is part of a Team – Lower, Middle or Upper El
- All day kindergarten program that provides a good introduction to academics while emphasizing play and social development
- Strong parent/school partnership creates a family-like community
- Teacher to student ratio is 1 to 26; adult staff to child ratio is 1 to 13; each classroom has a full time Assistant that allows for more differentiation and center-based learning
- Chatfield School consistently receives an "A" by the Michigan Department of Education on its official school Report Card system; MEAP scores are at the top levels when compared to schools statewide.
- Special Education services and academic support programs are provided
- Transportation to and from school is not provided and there is no school lunch program (parents operate a lunch program several time per week)
- Chatfield is a leader in Ecology Education. The school received a two-year $300,000 grant from the Federal Government administered by the State Department of Education, to disseminate the Outdoor Classroom concept to other schools
- Construction has begun on the Willows Earth Education Center Building located on the Chatfield grounds. This unique green building will be an instructional and research center for Chatfield students and available to school and community groups working the Chatfield staff. Completion date is expected by Spring 2008
- Fine Arts are an important component of the school. All students receive weekly art and vocal music instruction. Band and Choir participation is offered beginning in fifth grade. Spanish is taught K-6.
- Chatfield students excel in a variety of competitive athletic programs including Flag football, cheerleading, girls and boys basketball and soccer, girls volleyball
- The building expansion, to include a six-eighth grade wing, will be completed by fall 2008.